Funk Gets His Groove Working

August 17, 2002|By Randall Mell Staff Writer

CHASKA, Minn. — The short-hitting Fred Funk should have flexed his muscles for the crowd after unleashing his tee shot at the third hole Friday in the second round of the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

He belted the drive 280 yards into the teeth of a strong wind.

"I was really surprised I hit the ball as far as I did," Funk said.

Funk is surprising everybody at Hazeltine National by taking early command of the weather-suspended championship. He's finding power from unexpected sources in climbing to the top of the leaderboard with a 7 under total through 31 holes. He's 0 for 35 in major championships with only two top-10 finishes in his career.

Funk, 46, was 3 under through 13 holes in the second round when play was suspended for the day at 7:38 p.m. due to an approaching storm.

Justin Leonard and Rich Beem shot 6-under-par 66s Friday, two of three players to tie Hazeltine National's competitive course record. They joined Mark Calcavecchia (68) and South Africa's Retief Goosen (69) as the leaders in the clubhouse at 6-under 138.

Sweden's Pierre Fulke (68) is at 140. Jim Furyk (73) and Charles Howell III (69) are among players at 141. Australia's Robert Allenby, who shot the other record 66, is in a group at 142. Ernie Els is at 2 under overall with two holes to play to complete his second round.

Tiger Woods is 3 under for the championship with two holes to play. He is among 41 players who will return at 8:30 a.m. today to finish the round.

PGA meteorologists were projecting that a nasty overnight storm would clear out this morning but that heavy winds of up to 35 mph would continue to blow today.

"Even-par could lead this tournament tomorrow," said Greg Norman, who's at 1-over 145. "This course is not designed to play in 30 mph winds."

Funk agreed.

"I can't imagine that kind of wind and playing this golf course," he said. "Par will be 78. You're going to see some train wrecks when you have this."

The cut is projected at 4-over 148, which means former PGA champions Nick Price, Paul Azinger, Bob Tway and Larry Nelson likely will be sent home for the weekend. They're all at 149 or over.

Woods got his round going early, getting to 4 under before dropping a shot on the back nine.

He's bidding to become the first player to win three major championships in a year on two occasions. The leaders all know he's lurking.

"The only chance other players have got is when he's not really in contention, like last year at my U.S. Open," said Goosen, the 2001 U.S. Open champion. "I think everybody is sort of still looking where he is and keeping an eye on him and just trying to stay ahead."

Funk is making the most of his first major of the year. He didn't qualify for The Masters, U.S. Open or British Open. Though he ranks No. 1 in driving accuracy on tour, he's just 136th in driving distance.

Though Funk's first-round lead Thursday marked the first time he held the lead in a major championship, he is playing with great confidence.

A five-time PGA Tour winner, he's drawing strength and inspiration from his older brother, Bernie, who is 57. Bernie is battling alcoholism.

"That's an emotional story," Funk said. "About 21/2 weeks ago, he was really down and out. He showed some strength and turned it around. I'm so proud of him, and I feel like I've got a brother back. I've kind of been using him as strength, because he showed a lot of strength.

"I'm not going to back down. If I end up not playing well, it's not because I got scared."

Funk was fist-pumping and high-fiving and enjoying his run Friday.

He got it to 8 under overall before making bogey at his 13th and final hole of the day.

Funk expects a test of more than skill if the winds are ripping today.

"It's going to be a battle of patience," Funk said. "I'm not really sure that talent is the biggest thing that comes out when you have such severe conditions or wind. There's going to be a lot of luck."

Woods shot himself out of the British Open last month with an 81 in foul weather in the third round. Still, nobody's expecting a reprise of that failure.

"When Jack Nicklaus showed up on the board, everybody knew he was there," Funk said. "Tiger is that way. When he shows up on the board, everybody is intimidated."